Text: 1 to present a portrayal or performance of<a very talented student acted the part of Tiny Tim in our production of A Christmas Carol>Synonymsimpersonate, perform, play, portrayRelated Wordsdepict, dramatize, enact, pantomime, render, represent, role-play, take on; overact, underplay; ape, clown, ham, imitate, masquerade, mime, mimic, pose (as); star (in) 2 to produce a desired effect<the painkiller acted quickly>Synonymsoperate, perform, take, workRelated Wordsbehave, react, respond; affect, influence, sway; pan out, redound, resultPhrasestake effectNear Antonymsbackfire; fizzle 3 to give the impression of being<always acting helpless, just to get attention>— see seem 4 to have a certain purpose<the tail feathers of woodpeckers act as props while the birds excavate tree trunks for insects>— see function

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